They would never admit it publicly of course, but you can be
assured that Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey and Boston counterpart
Danny Ainge both want the same thing when their teams meet on Monday night: to
lose. Both the Jazz and Celtics are in full-blown rebuilding modes and eyeing
the potentially excellent 2014 draft as a way to kick-start a return to
contention. Utah is absolutely salivating over the chance to get Duke star
freshman Jabari Parker because he's a Mormon and obviously that would be a big
selling point to folks in Salt Lake City. It's not like many free agents are
flocking to live there. Utah opened as a 3-point favorite on NBA odds with a
total of 189.5 for sports bettors.

Struggle On Both Ends
For Boston

This is the finale of a four-game road trip for Boston and
the first three all were losses; the Celtics (27-29-1 ATS, 22-35 O/U at
sportsbooks) have lost four straight overall. They all looked pretty similar:
the offensively challenged Celtics didn't crack triple digits in any of them
but the opponents all did. The C's played without Rajon Rondo and Jared
Sullinger in Saturday's 105-98 defeat in Sacramento in which rookie Celtics
coach Brad Stevens earned his first ejection. The loss dropped Boston to 0-12
on the road against Western Conference teams this season.

It was the second of a back-to-back -- the Lakers ended
their franchise-record eight-game home losing streak against Boston on Friday
-- so Rondo sat just as a precaution off his ACL surgery. He'll be back in
there for this one -- backup Phil Pressey was a team-worst minus-13 vs. the
Kings -- but Sullinger is doubtful as he suffered a concussion in the loss to
the Lakers. He looks to be one of Ainge's few building blocks, averaging 13.1
points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Kris Humphries would start again and the
former Mr. Kardashian had 19 points and eight rebounds against the Kings. Boston
remains without another starter in guard Avery Bradley, a tremendous perimeter
defender. He has missed the past five games and it's no coincidence that teams
are having little trouble scoring against Boston in that stretch.

Burke Could Be A Good
One

Since a 1-14 start Utah has been pretty competitive, going
18-22. That turnaround almost exactly coincided with the season debut of rookie
Trey Burke, last season's national player of the year at Michigan. He missed
the first chunk of the season after surgery on his right index finger. The No.
9 overall pick is averaging 12.8 points and 5.6 assists. He's probably going to
finish third in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Philly's Michael
Carter-Williams and Orlando's Victor Oladipo.

The Jazz (24-28-3 ATS, 25-29-1 O/U) have been streaking this
month, opening it with three losses, then winning three straight, including a
home upset of Miami. Since then the Jazz have dropped three straight again.
Burke had 16 points and six assists in Saturday's 121-104 home loss to
Minnesota. The Jazz played again without injured big man Derrick Favors against
the Wolves and are now 0-9 this season when he sits out. Utah has held teams to
99.7 points with him in the lineup and more than 105.0 per game when he's out.
Favors is averaging 12.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and is questionable
to play in this one. Enes Kanter has stepped it up offensively in place of Favors
by averaging 22.7 points in the past three but he's not the interior defender
Favors is.

Season Series

Back on Nov. 6, the Celtics were 4.5-point home favorites
for sports bettors and beat the Jazz 97-87. Brandon Bass led Boston with 20
points in the first NBA win for Stevens. His former Butler star, Gordon
Hayward, led Utah with 28 points (look for Boston to target Hayward this
offseason when he is a restricted free agent; Utah probably matches any offer,
however). Burke was still out injured for Utah. That game also ended a streak
of 289 consecutive games that sold out for Boston, dating to the end of the
2006-07 season. That offseason Boston added Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and
became a hot ticket again.

NBA Free Picks:
Utah -3 and over 189.5. Boston is 1-6 ATS in its past seven playing on one day
of rest, while Utah has covered 14 of its past 20 after a loss of at least 10 points
at home. The over is 5-2-1 in the past eight meetings.